I Understand Now (Ricky Dillon Fanfiction)

Chapter 17

After I head home from Ellie's, I am left in my own thoughts of love and appreciation towards her. I never thought I'd be this in love with anyone, let alone someone I've only known for, like, a week. And I know it's love because there are no other feelings in the world like this one. True love is impossible to mistake.

"Hi honey," my mum annoyingly greets. I really hate when she calls me that, but she is my mum after all. "How'd your stay with Ellie go?"

"Really well," I reply. "You know....I think I'm in love with her."

"Wow." Mum seems impressed. "You should ask her out, now that you know her."

"I have," I inform her. "She said yes."

"Really?" Mum asks, looking overjoyed. "Wow, she must really like you."

"I guess," I shrug.

I head upstairs to my room and decide to go on Skype to see if anyone's online. My friend Connor is, so I click 'video call' and he answers after a few moments.

"Hey, Ricky!" He exclaims when the video finishes connecting. "How are you?"

"I'm good," I reply with a laugh. "I haven't seen you in a while."

"I know, right?" Connor agrees. "How's Australia?"

"Hot," I reply, making him laugh. I'm still getting used to the fact that January in Australia is summer. Which sucks, because they don't get a white Christmas either.

"While I'm over here in LA freezing my face off," Connor laughs. "You should be glad."

"Hardly," I remind him. "I'd rather snow than this."

"Whatever." Connor rolls his eyes jokingly. "So have you made any friends yet?" I hold one finger up.

"Just one," I answer. "Well, I suppose I have a couple of friends, but I'm only close to one of them."

"What's his name?" Connor asks.

"Well, her name is Ellie," I inform him, making him raise one eyebrow.

"A girl, eh?" He asks. I nod.

"Yeah, a girl. You got a problem with that?" I ask in a sassy voice.

"Well, maybe I do," Connor retorts in an identical tone. We both burst out laughing, and I am reminded of the friendship we have built over the years. The way we make each other laugh. The way we understand each other. The way we don't judge each other. Most of the time.

"Anyway, how are the others?" I ask, trying to change the subject. It doesn't work.

"Oh, no no no," Connor says, wiggling a finger. "You're not getting off just like that. I wanna hear about this Ellie chick." He moves from sitting to lying on his stomach, and I presume he's on his bed. "What's she like?" He asks, resting his chin on the palm of one of his hands.

"She's pretty cute," I reply, smiling as I think of her. "We've known each other for a few weeks now, but I asked her out yesterday, and she said yes. She seems like a little bit of a nerdy type, but that's what I like about her."

"Wait, like Star Wars nerd, or knows-everything-about-algebra nerd?" Connor asks.

"Um..." I begin while laughing. "I don't know, more of a Star Wars kind of nerd. She likes books."

"Oh, so she's that type of girl." Connor nods. "Right."

"What?" I question. "Is that a bad thing?"

"No, not at all," Connor assures me. "I like that in girls too. I used to date a girl called Claire because of that. I found it so cute the way she would talk to me about one of her favourite books, and I would never get bored of listening to her." I've never heard of Claire, but she already sounds like Ellie. "She ended up losing interest, but our relationship was strong and pretty long-lasting. I think you two sound perfect for each other." He smiles his signature cheeky grin, and I laugh.

"Thanks, Connor," I say honestly. "That means a lot."

"Hey, anything for my very best friend." He says the last few words in a childish voice, making me laugh again.

"And this is why we belong together," I say with a smile.

...

Ellie's POV.

"So, uh...what do you think of him?" I ask Mum, nervous to hear her response.

"I'm not too sure about him, Ellie," she stops my heart by replying. "He seems like one of those popular boys that just wants to mess with your heart, and then leave you empty."

"How can you say that?" I demand. "You barely know him. You can't just instantly presume that he's popular and cocky because of the way he looks."

"Nor can I instantly love him," Mum retorts, and I find it hard to argue with that. But I manage to come up with something.

"Can't you at least give him a chance?" I beg, tears forming in my eyes. "I know he might seem like that to you, but I've known him for weeks, and he's isn't like that at all. He's the nicest, funniest, kindest, most understanding guy I know. You only just met him today."

"I'm sorry, honey, but I need some time to think about this before I let you spend any more time with him," Mum snaps. "I'll bet you anything he tells you it was all a lie and stomps on your heart, and believe me, my doors won't be open for you to run to if that happens."

I bite my lip. That has always been my fear, the biggest reason I've classed myself as 'afraid of love'. This time, I can't come up with a smart reply. Instead, my mind formulates a pathetic one.

"I just wish you'd let me do what I want," I half-say, half-whisper before exiting the room and heading back upstairs to my bedroom.

I pull out my phone and find Ricky's name in Contacts. I click it and hold the phone up to my ear, biting my nails anxiously as it rings. A single tear trickles down my cheek, but I am able to control any more escaping. All I want is him, and no one can stop me from getting that.

Not even my own mother, if I can help it.

{Yes, Connor is Connor Franta if that's what you thought 😊}